Stencil



Dec. 31, 1940.

A. D. SHAPIRO ,227,325

STENCIL Filed Feb. 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flfitfa 0. Jan /(0 ATTORNEY-5.

Dec. 3 1940' A. nsH

2 Sheets-S 2 STENCIL Filed Feb. 7, 1939 J 1? if Tia-1D.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates generally to stenci'lling, and particularly to the stencilling of curved surfaces, such as airplane Wings, automobile bodies, or the like, and consists in the provision of a novel stencil structure and a new and improved method of applying same to the surface to be treated.

While, in this application, I illustrate and describe my new and improved stencil and its application to a curved surface such as an airplane wing, it is not to be so circumscribed, and the scope of my invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Applying numerals, letters or designs'to a curved surface or forming same thereon consumes a great deal of time and necessitates extreme care in order to secure clear and neat outlines since the conventional practice is to lay out or rough the letters, figures or designs, and then to paint either around or Within the defined margins to complete same. The practice is substantially identical with respect to fiat surfaces. This procedure, of necessity, is time consuming and hence expensive. With the novel stencil of my 25 invention I have found it possible not only to reduce the time element involved but also to reduce the cost. Using the stencil of my invention, I am enabled also to form much more clearly defined outlines than is usually possible with the conventional hand lettering job.

The main object of my invention is to provide a stencil which is pliable for use on and application to a curved surface in combination with means to seal the stencil outlines to the said curved surface. With the stencil of my invention and my new and improved means and method of application, I can letter, etc., surfaces not in direct contact with the stencil and still secure a clear and neat outline.

spray gun, air brush or similar device for applying the paint or other material to my stencils.

In the drawings annexed hereto, and made a part hereof, I illustrate my invention as applied 50 to an airplane wing, in which drawings Figure l is a perspective view of one form of stencil constructed according to and embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of a locking strip used with my new and improved stencil;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a number of stencils of my invention applied to and locked in place on an airplane wing; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a por- ,59 tion of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line 1-1 of 5 Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified stencil also constructed according to and embodying my 0 invention;

Fig. 10 is a. perspective view of the result obtained by the use of this modification of my invention; and

Fig. 11 is a section on the line I'l-H of Fig. 9. 15

Each of my stencils S comprises a body portion H), which may be of light gage metal, fiber board, or the'like. My stencils may be made of almost any material that is self-sustaining, not too rigid,

non-porous and fairly thin. 20.

Referring specifically to the preferred embodi ment of my invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the body portion 10 has an opening [2 formed therein to roughly outline the desired letter. In Fig. 1, a stencil for the block letter '25 I or the numeral I is illustrated. Referring to Fig. 3, from left to right, each stencil S has an opening 12 therein, to roughly outline a numeral or letter, as "'l, 0, 4 respectively.

I use the word roughly advisedly, since the edges of opening l2 are machine made and thus clearan-d sharp. However, the ultimate size of the letter is different from that of opening l2 and so I use the word roughly to describe this situation. '35

On the underside of each body portion l0 and around the margin of the opening I2, I fasten a strip of bias-cut, flexible and non-porous ma terial M, such as oilcloth or the like, and secure same permanently, as by gluing, or the like. The 40 flexible strip M is of uniform width, and is secured in such relation to the body portion as to extend inwardly of the outline opening 12 an equal distance all around the margin of the stencil opening, thus reducing the size of opening 12 by 2.145 uniform amount all around.

In operation, I place stencil S upon the subject to be lettered, as for instance, an airplane wing 50,, and secure same in the desired relation in the following manner. I provide a strip of masking tape 52 havin adhesive material on one side thereof. Tape 52 is preferably wider than the extension of strip l4 out from the stencil outline l2, and in Fig. 5, I indicate this extension by reference numeral 54, so that the general relationship between the lining material l4 and the masking tape 52 will be clarified. Using the edge 53 of opening l2 as a guide, the uniformly wide tape 52 is so applied that one portion thereof is affixed to the lining material l4 and the over- 0 lapping portion thereof is affixed and secured directly to the wing surface 50 (see Figs. 4 and 6). Tape 52 in this application, serves a three-fold function; to define the final margins of the let- 5 ter or numeral; to secure the stencil tothe subject; and, to seal the edges of the stencil to the surface. The use of flexible material I4 makes it possible to secure a perfect result even on a curved surface or a sagging surface, as illusl trated in Figs. and 6, where the properties of strips 14 and tapes 52 secure the stencils S to the interrib-surfaces just as efiiciently as to a perfectly fiat surface.

After the stencil is 50 secured, a spray gun, air 15 coloring material to the uncovered portions. Aprons 34 of suitably impervious material are provided on the upper and lower edges of stencils S to prevent the coloring material from reaching any of the surface except that desired and outlined by the stencils. It is obvious that this method of application will be quick, simple, neat and inexpensive. The non-porous, impervious nature of the strip l4 and the masking tape 52 will prevent any seepage therethrough of the paint onto the object being treated, so that the ultimate letter outlines will be defined by the inner edge of masking tape 52. When the spraying operation is completed, the masking tapes 52 are removed and may be destroyed, but the stencil with its permanent outline of flexible material Hi on the underside thereof may be used over and over again.

Certain letters, as O, and certain numerals, as l (see Figs. 3 and 4) call for the inner portions or blocks to complete the outline of the letter or numeral. In such case the outer margin of the insert blocks I6 is similarly outlined with a strip Hi of flexible material extending out- 40 wardly from the underside of the insert an equal distance all around the block and, before application of colorin material, is similarly fastened to the subject, before spraying, with a strip of masking tape 52.

I provide a novel arrangement in order to locate the insert blocks [6 in their proper position relative to the, body portion H! of the stencil so as to accuratel shape or define the letter or number desired before the application of the 50 masking tape finally secures the inserts to the subject. I provide lugs [8 on the upper and lower edges of body portion H], which lugs are preferably triangular in shape, and also provide the insert blocks it with one or more similar lugs 20. 55 The insert blocks it are placed on the object being treated within their respective stencil openings l2 so that the lugs l8, ill on the stencil are aligned with the lugs 20, 20 on the insert, and

then a locking bar 22 is employed to lock and so keep the insert in said aligned position relative to body ill. Bar 22 consists of a flat strip of light gage metal or other suitable material, and is provided with a plurality of openings 24, 24 therein, of size and shape identical with that of lugs I 8 and it, so that the lugs are received within the openings 26 in the overlying bar 22 to properly locate the insert l6, and shape the letter or numeral. Lugs. iii .and 2iland openings 24 are preferably of such size and shape and are so placed 7 that an improper application cannot be made of the block l6 within the stencil opening since bar 22 will not lock properly if the lugs 18 and 20 are not aligned in their-regular order. Of course,

lugs 18, I81 and lugs 20, 20 are differently placed brush or the like is then employed to affix the on each stencil, as required by the particular letter or number, but the principle of operation is identical with each letter or number having an insert member. After bar 22 is used on each indicia, as the numbers and letters, etc. will be referred to, that particular indicia is completed by the masking tape and the bar removed and used, as necessary, by the next indicia.

Each stencil S is rectangular in shape, and has straight sides 26, 26. One side of each stencil has an upstanding lug 28 thereon, and th opposite side is provided with an extending ear 30, having an opening 32 therein of the size and shape as lug 28. Thus, when it is desired to assemble a number of stencils, they are arranged in the desired relationship with the longitudinal sides 26, 26 abutting, and locked together by means of the ear and lug interlock. This locking arrangement serves not only to space the indicia properly as between themselves, but also to fix the indicia in perfect horizontal alignment. As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, one side of each stencil is provided with a flap of flexible material similar to the outlining material I4, and when a number of stencils are placed side by side, they form a ship-lap joint (Fig. 8), and seal the stencil edges against infiltration of the coloring medium.

In Figs. 9, l0 and 11, I have illustrated a further form of my invention. In this form, the indicia 60 are solid, and have flexible strips 62 extending out from the outer margins thereof on the underside, which strips 62 correspond in function and purpose to strips l4. Similarly, masking tapes B4 are employed not only to secure the stencils 60 to the surface 66 being treated but also to define the ultimate size and shape of the letter and to locate the stencil 60 on the surface 65. In this embodiment of my invention, the coloring material is placed on the body of the surface 66 being treated and the body of the letter or indicia 68 is left untouched, being shielded by the stencil 60 and the masking tapes 64.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stencil comprising a body portion the marginal edges of which define an insignia, which marginal edges are provided with portions of flexible impervious material projecting outwardly therefrom a substantially equal amount beyond said marginal edges.

2. A stencil comprising a body portion and an opening therein defining an indicia, the underside of said stencil having secured thereto portions of flexible impervious material adjacent the opening therein and extending thereinto around the marginal edges thereof.

3. A stencil comprising a body portion of rigid material, extensions therefrom around the marginal edges thereof of flexible material, and strip means. of uniform width cooperating with said extensions and a subject to be stencilled to secure said stencil to said subject in operative position.

4. A stencil comprising a body portion of rigid material, extensions therefrom around the marginal edges thereof and on the underside thereof of flexible material, and strip means of uniform width cooperating with said extensions and overlying same to secure said stencil to a subject in operative relation to said subject.

5. A stencil as in claim 4 in which the last named means comprises strips of flexible adhesive material.

ALFRED D. SHAPIRO. 

